United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Sells $4,523,615.00 in Stock

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $476.17, for a total transaction of $4,523,615.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at approximately $154,490,023.31. This represents a 2.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

United Therapeutics Trading Up 12.5%

UTHR opened at $541.89 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $509.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $539.39. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 1 year low of $409.07 and a 1 year high of $609.35. The stock has a market cap of $23.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.39, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.56.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.86 by $0.41. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%.The company had revenue of $783.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $804.65 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $6.41 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UTHR. QRG Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,476 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $1,883,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in United Therapeutics by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 3,445 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,867,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Andra AP fonden grew its holdings in United Therapeutics by 33.5% in the 2nd quarter. Andra AP fonden now owns 34,904 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $18,912,000 after buying an additional 8,760 shares during the last quarter. Security National Bank of SO Dak bought a new position in United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $179,000. Finally, Talon Private Wealth LLC increased its position in United Therapeutics by 31.8% in the 2nd quarter. Talon Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,753 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $3,659,000 after buying an additional 1,630 shares during the period. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UTHR has been the topic of several analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. They set a “sell” rating and a $321.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Weiss Ratings lowered United Therapeutics from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $621.00.

Key United Therapeutics News

Here are the key news stories impacting United Therapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: A U.S. District Court in Delaware ruled that Liquidia infringes two claims of United Therapeutics’ patent covering inhaled treprostinil for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). The decision is a major legal win for UTHR and could delay or limit the commercial opportunity for Liquidia’s competing lung treatment, reducing competitive pressure on United Therapeutics’ Tyvaso franchise. United Therapeutics Prevails in Patent Litigation Against Liquidia
• Positive Sentiment: Liquidia shares fell dramatically following the ruling, reinforcing investor expectations that the judgment could materially damage the rival drug’s commercial outlook. For United Therapeutics, the outcome may help protect revenue, market share and the value of its pulmonary hypertension portfolio. Liquidia Slumps After Court Rules for United Therapeutics
• Neutral Sentiment: The ruling is a significant catalyst, but the longer-term financial impact depends on enforcement of the patent, any appeals and the timing of competing products. Investors should also note that United Therapeutics’ latest quarterly revenue declined 1.9% year over year, despite earnings exceeding analyst expectations.
• Negative Sentiment: Goldman Sachs previously initiated coverage with a Sell rating and a $321 price target, arguing that United Therapeutics’ core franchise is shrinking, its valuation is elevated and a potential idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis launch could be difficult. This remains a valuation and execution risk despite the favorable court decision. Goldman Sachs Sell Rating on United Therapeutics
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares for approximately $4.5 million under a reported trading plan. She retained a substantial stake, so the transaction is a modest negative signal rather than a major change in insider alignment. SEC Insider Transaction Filing

About United Therapeutics

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other serious cardiopulmonary conditions. The company’s products include Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable form of treprostinil; Orenitram, an oral treprostinil product; and Adcirca, a tadalafil-based PAH treatment.

United Therapeutics markets its therapies primarily in the United States and internationally through commercial and regulatory activities in additional markets.